The Predator 3500 Inverter Generator is quiet, however simply how quiet is it and are they value it?
We’ve been utilizing the Harbor Freight Predator 3500 Generator for two weeks straight now whereas Dispersed Tenting in Western Montana and have actually put it to the check, so lets dive in.
The very first thing I’m going to deal with is the worth. In case you have appeared in to Inverter Mills in any respect, you recognize the costs are all around the map. The primary one I checked out shopping for was the Honda and it was over $2,300. Having used loads of Honda merchandise within the fireplace service, I do know their small engines are rattling close to bullet proof.
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2,300 Bucks is a giant nut to crack although, so I saved wanting. I got here throughout a number of different manufacturers, and occurred to cease in Harbor Freight for some small instruments and noticed the Predator 3500, and it was listed for $799. After seeing the costs of the opposite manufacturers, my first thought was nothing this “low-cost” goes to be value it. However nonetheless, for One Third of the worth, it piqued my curiosity sufficient to do some digging.
Quiet RV Generator
After a number of days of diligently looking out the web for the great the dangerous and the ugly on the Predator 3500, I made a decision it was certainly value taking a shot on the “low-cost” generator. The value has gone up round $150 since we bought ours a number of months in the past, however even within the $950 vary, I might purchase it once more.
Unboxing
The one factor that DOESN’T come within the field is a quart of 10/30 Motor Oil that you should fill earlier than firing it up for the primary time. Each different factor you want comes with this little energy home. Included within the field is a small instrument equipment for attaching the battery to make use of the starter, a funnel to fill your oil, a spark plug wrench, a small set of “jumper cables” to connect the Predator 3500 proper to a battery, and a 30amp Twist Lock to RV Plug adaptor.
Preliminary Setup
Earlier than its first fireplace up, you should fill the oil, which is simple to do by way of the oil fill entry door utilizing the included funnel. The subsequent step is to connect your battery cables to your battery, and also you’re able to go. Whole preliminary setup time was below 5 minutes.
Gas Up & Fireplace Up
The instruction handbook says to make use of StaBil gasoline stabilizer as a result of the ethanol gasoline tears up small carburetors, and the StaBil negate the ethanol’s results, in addition to stop the gasoline from turning to jelly in the event you let the generator sit saved for months with gasoline within the tank.
The Predator 3500 boasts a ridiculously future time of 11 hours on 2.5 gallons of gasoline below a 25% load. That appeared like a quantity that will be a “lab outcomes solely” sort of statistic and I couldn’t wait to show it improper. We topped off the onboard fuel tank, and bought a 2.5 gallon fuel can and topped it off as properly, so we a spare “full tank” of fuel on the prepared as I used to be sure there could be no approach it will attain 11 hours.
Predator 3500 Generator
Yesterday at 5:00 pm we fired up our Predator 3500 so we might watch TV within the RV and to cost up our batteries for the over evening energy draw of the fridge, water pump and so forth. My Spouse and I subsequently fell asleep on the sofa and by no means shut it down for the ten:00 pm quiet hour curfew. We additionally each managed to sleep your complete evening till the solar was beginning to come up the subsequent morning, which in itself is remarkable.
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Fortunately we’re Dispersed Tenting, and there was completely nobody else within the space we had been tenting in, so we weren’t “these guys” with their generator operating all evening (extra on that in a minute)
I opened my eyes about 6:15 am, arrange the espresso pot, and hit the facility button on my morning autopilot routine. When the little LED turned on and I might scent the Folgers beginning to permeate air, I remembered we’re boondocking, and I shouldn’t have energy proper now.
The Predator 3500 was STILL RUNNING 13.25 Hours Later!
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Predator 3500 Gas Effectivity
Now I’m not positive how, maybe the Predator 3500 has a 3 gallon tank however is “rated” as a a 2.5 gallon? I don’t know, both approach it was nonetheless operating. The little fuel gauge on the highest of the tank stated it was lifeless empty, after which I did one thing I DO NOT advocate.
I opened the fuel cap whereas it was operating to see if there was truly any gasoline in it. There was, not a lot in any respect, barely a coating on the underside of the tank, however there was certainly nonetheless gasoline in it.
I grabbed our spare fuel can and refilled the tank, and fired it again up. The Predator 3500 Generator loved lower than a 5 minute relaxation earlier than I fired it proper again up, and continued to make use of it for the remainder of the day. It diligently carried out as marketed for your complete day, powering our Residential RV Fridge, Two
Desktop Computer systems, a Espresso Pot, Considered one of our 2 AC Items, and our lounge TV.
We most likely had it fairly near its 25 amp max for many of the day, because it was a “work” day, the place my spouse and I had been each engaged on articles for the web site, YouTube movies, and downing espresso like there’s no tomorrow. The Predator 3500 simply saved on going, with out problem.
Extra on that in a minute
Like I discussed earlier, we each fell asleep on the sofa and blew the quiet hour shut down. We each actually hate to be “these guys” at a campground, and do all the pieces we are able to to ensure we’re utilizing correct tenting etiquette so everybody can have an pleasing expertise on their tenting journeys.
We bought fortunate and there was nobody else right here, however what if their was? I do know it’s an excellent quiet generator, however tremendous quiet within the day time, isn’t the identical as at midnight when the ambient noise stage is at adverse 10. I needed to know, how a lot of an A-Gap would I’ve been if we had neighbors?
So with espresso in hand, I began stroll the campground to see how far the sound of the Predator 3500 Generator operating would journey. To my amazement, on the very subsequent camp website, in any course, it was nearly undetectable.
After I say undetectable, I don’t imply that it’s 100% silent. I imply to say that you simply CAN hear it, however you CAN’T inform its one campsite away. It sounds as if Somebody, has a generator operating Someplace, approach over there.
We’ve a YouTube video you’ll be able to watch by clicking right here, of after we first purchased it and examined it, with actual world, unedited quantity ranges to see what I imply for your self.
Is It Quiet
The again of the generator the place the exhaust comes out is louder than being on any of the opposite 3 sides. Nonetheless, since we had been on the outer fringe of the tenting space, the exhaust was pointed away from the remainder of the campground. So even when somebody had pulled in after we fell asleep, it wouldn’t have prevented them from falling asleep both.
Predator 3500 Generator Cons?
We’ve been utilizing the Predator 3500 Generator fairly rigorously during the last 2 weeks, and there has solely been One Disadvantage. I can’t even actually say its a downside, extra of a private choice.
The generator comes with a Twist Lock to RV adapter, so you’ll be able to plug your RV into the 30 amp generator outlet. It’s a quick adapter, solely about 3 inches lengthy, twist lock male on one aspect, RV feminine on the opposite. So, It really works.
My solely hold up, is that RV Plugs are heavy. So the burden of the RV energy twine on the adapter simply made me somewhat uncomfortable. Don’t get me improper, We used it like that for a number of days, with out problem, and it by no means failed or pulled free, or gave me any actual cause to offer it a adverse on this one, I simply didn’t prefer it.
Our Resolution
My answer was to purchase a dongle, with an influence wire between the twist lock and the RV plug finish, in order that the burden of the RV plug was on the bottom, and never hanging on the adapter on the generator.
Click on right here to get the identical dongle we use.
Our Unbiased evaluation of the Predator 3500 Generator is 5 out of 5 stars. We’ve not been paid for a evaluation or endorsement in any approach. I might purchase it once more, even on the larger worth level. And one additional advantage, is you’ll be able to daisy chain two of them collectively and have 50 amp whole service do you have to want too. Even with shopping for Two of them, you’d nonetheless be below the worth of a single comparable Honda.
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